Release Detail

September 25, 2003 - Bush Approval Slips To A Break Even In New Jersey,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Democrats Are Nipping At His Heels

President George W. Bush's approval rating has dropped to a 49 - 47 percent split in New Jersey, and
several possible Democratic challengers have narrowed the gap with the Republican incumbent,
according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

New Jersey voters gave President Bush a 67 - 29 percent approval in an April 1 poll by the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, but that score had dropped to 53 - 43 percent by
July 17.

Bush's lead in the 2004 Presidential race in New Jersey also has dropped since a June 19 poll:
Bush gets 47 percent to New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's 45 percent, a tie. This is down from 54 - 38
percent;

"As President Bush's approval rating declines, so does his commanding lead over the leading
Democratic challengers in New Jersey," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac
University Polling Institute.

"In July, Bush held a lead of 15 points or so. Now that lead has shrunk to four or five points over
the major Democrats," Richards added.

If Clinton runs, she gets 41 percent of the Democratic vote, followed by 10 percent for Lieberman,
9 percent each for Gephardt and Dean and 8 percent each for Kerry and Clark, with no other Democrat
getting more than 3 percent.

With Clinton out of the race, Lieberman gets 17 percent, with 16 percent for Clark, 14 percent for
Kerry, 13 percent for Gephardt, 12 percent for Dean, 9 percent for Rev. Al Sharpton and no other
candidate above 4 percent. In this field, 13 percent of Democrats are undecided.

"Questions about Iraq and the economy continue to batter Bush's approval rating. It will be
difficult for him to carry this normally Democratic state but the Democrats are having trouble coming up
with a strong candidate. Only Senator Clinton shows any great strength among Democrats in New Jersey
and she says she is not running," Richards said.

From September 18 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 968 New Jersey registered voters,
with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent. The survey includes 322 Democrats, with a margin of error
of +/- 5.5 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion
surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and nationally as a public service and for
research.

7. Now I'm going to name ten Democrats who might run for president in 2004.
After I read all ten names, tell me which one you would most like to see the
Democrats nominate for president in 2004. Here are the choices...
Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri
Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont
Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham,
former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich
or retired General Wesley Clark?

8. Suppose New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton decides to run for president
in 2004. Who would you most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in
2004? New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman,
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North
Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend
Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun,
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich or retired General Wesley Clark?